Training-Addicted Mage In A Progression Fantasy-Chapter 66: Curse of the Black Night

[Progression Assistant]▶ You have acquired the Dark Magic 'Curse of the Black Night (SSS)'.“Dark Magic?”

First Light Magic, and now Dark Magic as a reward...It felt strange how these opposing powers were being granted to him one after another.

As Leon claimed his reward, a weighty tome with a black cover materialized in his palm.

Without hesitation, Leon opened the book.

Just as he expected, the pages contained text written in modern language with black ink.Only the Spell Formula portions were inscribed in Runic Script.

I’ll need to get comfortable with these Runic Script Spell Formulas if I want to learn this properly.

Leon began studying the book’s contents thoroughly.The nature of this magic wasn’t hard to grasp.

The Curse of the Black Night was straightforward in its own way.

True to its name, it was magic that inflicted a curse.

But this curse held power that could threaten the very existence of its target.

Leon’s eyes grew wide as he absorbed the book’s contents.

Unlike typical magic, this one didn’t follow the usual Grade system.It existed as a single, complete magic.

And once Leon mastered its Spell Formula, he could wield it immediately.

However, the magic progressed through distinct stages.

Stage 1, Curse of Pain. The target endures unrelenting physical agony.Stage 2, Curse of Oblivion. At the peak of suffering, memories begin to fade away.Stage 3, Curse of Erasure. The target’s existence vanishes from the world. They become severed from causality itself, disappearing even from others’ memories, as if they had never existed at all.

Could something like this really be possible...?

Leon could barely believe what he was reading.

Even for magic, this level of power...It seemed almost beyond comprehension.

This is practically on par with divine power.

Naturally, such powerful magic came with limitations.The Curse of the Black Night was no exception.

Several restrictions applied, the most crucial being the need for an object carrying the target’s essence.This could be anything they frequently used, or even their sweat or blood.

Another limitation was that its effects would be diminished against opponents of a higher Realm than Leon.

But given the sheer magnitude of its power, such restrictions seemed reasonable.

“...”

Leon closed the book, deep in contemplation.

Before mastering either the Brilliance of Creation or the Curse of the Black Night, there was a crucial step.

He needed to understand the Runic Script Spell Formulas.

This required studying the Advanced Secret of Creation.That text contained comprehensive documentation of Advanced Magic Spell Formulas in Runic Script, making it perfect preparation for fully grasping the Curse of the Black Night.

First things first, I need to master the Basic Secret of Creation. Reaching 2-star is essential for accessing the Advanced Study.

Leon entered the Magic Orb to begin his next task.

29 Gargoyle Golem bodies left.

Twenty-nine shells remained awaiting Core implantation.After completing those, he’d need to craft new Golem bodies, which required special minerals.

Creating Cores for the Gargoyle Golems proved more challenging than Leon had anticipated. Having failed several attempts himself, he knew implanting Cores in all 29 bodies would take considerable time.

After exiting the Magic Orb, Leon spent a week in the Training Room focused on creating 30 Gargoyle Golems.Since the Cores only required Mana Stones, there weren’t many obstacles, just the time needed to perfect the technique.

Golem creation didn’t demand dense Mana, and he could work on his Training Quest simultaneously, so there was no need to stay confined to the Magic Orb.

Yet even after producing 30 Golems, he still hadn’t reached 2-star in the Secret of Creation.

I’ve got to create more.

It had taken roughly 200 Golems to master 1-star.Reaching 2-star would demand an even greater number.

Whether crafting Scorpion Golems, Armor Golems, or Gargoyle Golems, they all required a mineral called White Obsidian for their bodies.This mineral was particularly suited for Gargoyle Golem construction due to its high magic resistance.

Fortunately, White Obsidian was readily available in the market.

The challenge lay in the mineral’s Refinement process.

I wonder if they’ll provide Refinement tools if I put in a request.

A high-temperature kiln was essential.

He decided to check the market district first for such tools, and if they proved hard to find, he’d submit a formal request.

Leon finally left the Training Room after his extended session.

***

Within the Magic City under Asteria’s administration lay a market district specializing in magical items.

Leon made his way there, remembering Ria’s guidance from his first day.

His Levitation Magic came to an unexpected halt when other floating practitioners approached to greet him.

“Hello, Leon?”“...Hello? You know who I am?”

Leon asked, clearly puzzled.A greeting was one thing, but recognition of his name felt odd.

“Haha!”

The young man was wearing blue attire, marking him as a General Disciple, laughed warmly.

“How could we not know of the Great Leon? You’re the talk of the city lately! Even the Tower Lord was impressed by you. It would be remiss not to recognize someone destined to represent our School.”“...You’re too kind.”

The sudden attention made him uncomfortable, but he couldn’t think of a better response.

The situation grew more complex as others began gathering around.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I am...”“Lord Leon, I’ve been hoping to meet you.”

Previously, Leisia had stepped in to help, but he couldn’t count on such assistance now.Leon had no choice but to acknowledge each greeting individually.

Before long, his audience had swelled to nearly ten people.

Then three more Disciples approached.

They initially greeted Leon cheerfully, but their expressions quickly soured.Their attention turned to Jackson, who had first welcomed Leon with a somewhat presumptuous air.

“Jackson, already trying to curry favor? How pathetic.”

Their contempt was plainly visible in both tone and expression.

Jackson’s face immediately darkened.Clearly, there was pre-existing tension between them.

“Seeing your faces first thing in the morning ruins my day. Move along.”“How can we ignore you when you’re so desperately grasping at straws?”“You think Lord Calderic appreciates this kind of behavior? He’d probably be disgusted seeing this.”

One of the three let out a derisive laugh at Jackson’s words.

“My, I didn’t realize you knew Lord Calderic’s mind better than we do.”“Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself just because Calderic backs you? How pleased would he be if word spread that you’re harassing a Personal Disciple of an elder with such disrespect?”“Aren’t you the one trying to manipulate a Personal Disciple with honeyed words?”

By now, Leon’s observers had split into two camps, exchanging glares and hostile murmurs.

Yet it remained verbal sparring.

Using magic over mere taunts would be excessive.Conflict between fellow School members wasn’t something to encourage.

Leon watched the scene unfold, internally sighing.

So they’ve formed factions.

That much he could deduce.It was natural for groups this size to develop internal divisions.

Viewing it that way, their initial warm welcome made more sense.

They’re trying to recruit me into their faction.

But since they hadn’t stated it directly, Leon kept that observation to himself.

Not that I have any interest in joining either side.

Leon’s goals were simple.Focused training.Faction politics and power struggles held no appeal.

He spoke up, addressing the still-bickering groups.He needed to extract himself before things got more complicated.

“I have some business to attend to, so I’ll be going now.”

Finally, someone responded to his words.

“Ah, we’ve been blocking your path.”

Thankfully, they let him leave without further hassle.

Leon quickly slipped away from the crowd and continued toward the market district.

Upon reaching the market, he browsed several shops before entering one specializing in minerals.

Various magical minerals were on display, and among them, Leon spotted the White Obsidian he sought.

Leon inquired with the shopkeeper.

“How much does it cost?”

The merchant, eyeing the Ivory mineral in Leon’s hand, replied.

“Ten thousand Mana Stones per kilogram.”“...”

Leon fell silent.He had just over fifty thousand Mana Stones remaining.

Moreover, a single kilogram wouldn’t come close to meeting his Golem-crafting needs.

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To think I’d actually run low on Mana Stones...

He finally understood why people acknowledged Golems’ effectiveness yet treated them as luxury items.

Until now, he’d sustained himself with Mana Stones taken from defeated Mages, so this situation was perhaps inevitable.

I need to find a way to replenish my Mana Stones...

Technically Jackson addresses Leon the same way throughout their conversation, but I preferred building up to it.